Yingozi Woodlands
South of the Channel Lakes, the land becomes open woodlands interspersed with clear areas as well as patches of actual forest. Rather than horses, the area is grazed by antelope, gazelles, and other grass eaters, as well as large animals such as giraffes and the great elephants. Their predators are here, too: lions, cheetahs, hyenas, wolves, and more.
The people of the woodlands are organized into tribal groups rather than nations. Villages are usually located in more thickly-wooded areas near streams, for the resources and any protection against the elements. Houses are generally made of logs or branches with grass roofs, but some tribes that move often use pole frames covered with hides. For transportation, some locals are able to acquire horses from the Channel Lakes haciendas, often by trading pelts. Others herd the antelope and might tame them for riding, though most aren’t as sturdy as horses. Many youths enjoy the thrill of raising and training ostriches to ride, something that can also be a choice for slender adults. The tribes tend to be superstitious, and they venerate the spirits of their ancestors as well as worshipping nature deities or spirits. They see Father Sky and Mother Earth as the great creators, and believe each part of creation has its own spirit at some level. For example, a grove may have a guardian spirit, or a single tree, or an entire forest. They also fear the hungry fire that can sweep through the woodlands, burning everything in its path; to them the symbol of a burned tree represents evil.
The human tribes inhabit primarily the central and eastern parts of the woodlands, while the western portion has a larger number of humanoids, especially orcs. Pressure by the Alcaldrich gradually moving south from the Channel Lakes, and the humanoids spreading toward the east, is slowly pushing more human tribes south toward the Kanderi Desert and its very limited resources.
Region
Yingozi Woodlands
Controlled Territories
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